Following the success of Dubai World Expo 2020 and strategic alliances made by visitors and in particular, local businesses, UAE reached a milestone agreement with the Solomon Islands via a Reciprocal Visa Arrangement where citizens of both countries will not need a visa to enter each other’s countries for a maximum of 90 days with 6 months minimum passport validity.
Mohamad Albloushi, who was part of a group of foreign investors visiting Solomon Islands for tourism investment opportunities was the first Emirati to have his visa granted on arrival in Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands offers great potential for tourism development with attractions that include diving, bird watching, surfing, bush trekking and tours of historic sites.
According to Mohamad Albloushi, the knowledge of investments in Solomon Islands suitable for tourism development was first shared at the Dubai Expo by pavilion director Mr. Dennis Marita, Director of Culture and Ambassador H.E Mr. Moses K. Mosé, Solomon Islands Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, who played an instrumental in initiating the visit to Solomon Islands for meetings with tourism stakeholders and private-sector businesses.
The Dubai based tourism entrepreneurs visited the Western Province, Guadalcanal and Central Province, accompanied by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism representatives. The UAE delegation included Mohamad Shambi Mohamad Albloushi, Emirati entrepreneur.
Mohamad Al Bloushi said, “Solomon Islands offer investors numerous tourism development opportunities as the islands are rich with beautiful scenery, cultural experiences, trekking, bird watching, potential scuba sites, game fishing, scenic lakes, and surfing there is popular with world ranked surfers. We hope to set up a tourism offering that creates jobs for locals and brings more visitors to the islands through a world class venue and infrastructure that supports the tourism industry.
The delegation will return to Solomon Islands to finalise the investment offering and start the process of helping to revive the country’s tourism sector.
